Leaf-holder for book or music rests



(No Model.)

J. CLARK. LEAF HOLDER FOR BOOK 0R MUSIC RBSTS.

Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

Nrrn STAT PATENT OFFICE.

JUDSON CLARK, OF NEW'BURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEAF-HOLDER FOR BOOK OR MUSIC RESTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,235, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed March 31, 1891. Serial No. 387,101. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUDSON CLARK, of New buryport, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Leaf-Holders for Book or Music Rests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and efticient leaf-holder for bookrests, or the rests used for music on pianos or the like.

The invention consists in the improved device for holding the leaves of a book or piece of music in their open position, which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a front view of a book or music rest provided with my improved leaf-holder. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a bottom plan view of a rest provided with my improvement; and Fig. 4 represents a similar view, the leaf-holding arm being removed.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, (t represents a book or music rest provided with the usual supportingshelf a, which may be hinged thereto or attached in any suitable way.

1) represents a supporting-block attached to said shelf, the same being formed as a hinge member and constituting the support for my improved leaf-holding arm.

0 represents another hinge member, which is connected with the fixed hinge member I) by the usual hinge-pin (Z.

6 represents the leaf-holding arm, which is so pivoted at f to the member a that it can swing from side to side, but cannot swing backward and forward on said member 0. The arm c has a pin g on its inner side, and the member 0 is formed with stops h h at each side, which co-operate with said pin 9 to limit the sidewise swing of the arm 6. The lower portion of the swinging hinge member 0 is made rectangular, as shown in the drawings, in order to co-operate with a spring i, which is afiixed at the under side of the fixed hinge member or support I) and presses against the movable hinge member 0. \Vhcn the arm 6 is not in use, the movable member 0 is swung outwardly from the rest, the force applied to the arm and to the movable member 0 being sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring t pressing against the lower side of said hinge member 0. hen the member 0 is swung out a quarter of a circle, it will be again lockedagainst accidental movement by the spring 2' pressing against it, and the force which moved it being discontinued the mem ber rests in that position. The arm 6 may thenbe swung to either side, so as to cause it to lie parallel with and under the shelf a. The arm 6 is prevented from swinging too far in either direction by its ping coming in contact with one of the stops 7t on the member 0. To bring the arm e to its operative position, it is first swung to a position in relation to the member 0, in which it is midway between the two stops h 7L thereon, or nearly so, and the arm and the member 0 are then moved upward and inward a quarter of a circle on the hinge member or support I), thus bringing the arm c to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which it is adapted to occupy a position in the center of a book or piece of music and to bear upon and hold open both leaves thereof.

In order to give the arm a hold on the leaves, I provide it with cross-barsjj, which may be of any suitable size and may be arranged as found convenient,andmay be fixed on said arm or may slide thereon and be adjusted at any point by a screw.

It will be seen that the spring 6 is adapted to hold the arm in either of its described positions against accidental movement, while said spring is adapted to give when the hinge member 0 is moved to swing said arm from one position to the other. When the arm is at rest in either of said positions, the springt' will press on a flat surface of the member a, and while the .member 0 is being moved its corner will force the springidownwardly until said member reaches its newposition, when the spring t' will rest on another flat surface of said member 0. a

It will be seen that the device forms a very efficient and easily-operated leaf-holder for books, music, or the like. \Vhen it is desired to turn aleaf, the arm 6 maybe slightly withdrawn from the book or piece of music and swung down to one side, the leaf turned, and the arnrthen moved back to place. When not in use, the arm occupies buta small space, and that space is under the shelf of the rest, so that it in no way interferes with the use of the said rest.

I do not limit myself to the exact form of the arm or hinge members here shown and described, as the device may be varied somewhat in form without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that when the arm is held in its leafholding position by the member 0 it may be swung over onto one page or leaf or the other instead of being kept between the two leaves and holding both down or open by its crossbars j. This will be found useful when, as often happens, one leaf is apt to riseor close while the other lies flat and open.

I prefer toapply my improved leaf-holder to the shelf of a book-rest, said shelf being hinged to the rest proper. WVhen the 'leaf holder is not in use, the shelf may be folded np against the rest.

desired to fold up the shelf, the spring is is pushed back anddisengaged from thepin m, thus permitting the shelf to turn on its hinges.

I'prefer to provide on the face of the resta, at the point where the end of the arm '6 will To hold the shelf .in its open or operative position, I provide the .rest

spring on said support adapted to press on the said hinged member and guard the same against accidental movement, as set forth.

2. The improved leaf-holder for book or music reStsconsiSt-ing of the hinge member or support b, the hinge member c, th e arm e,

This prevents provided with the cross-loarsj and pivoted to said member 0 and adapted'to swing sidewise thereon, the stops h h "on said member 0,

adapted to co-operate witha pin ion the arm e to limit the 'sid-ewise swinging movement thereof, and the spring c', affixed to the memb'er or support '1) and adapted to press-on the member 0 and guard the latter agains-t'flaccidental dis-placement, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of March, A. D. 1891.

' JUDSON CLARK. Witnesses: WILLIAM H. BAYLEY, ARTHUR P. BROWN. 

